5 weeks and he's still avoiding me

[BriansAWildDowner]

I'm running out of ideas for how to make Raku like me. I don't try and force it. I give him treats and talk to him, but he just sits and stares out the window ignoring me, until my girlfriend comes over and then he gets all excited and interacts with her.

Should I limit how much time they spend together? Any advice would be really appreciated.

 

[MrsKay]

I think you should just spend more time with your girlfriend and Raku
Don't give up it's way too soon. Let Raku be with you both.

 

[BriansAWildDowner]

Thanks, I need regular reassurance that I'm not just totally screwing it all up.

 

[Sterling1113]

It's okay. We all(bird people) are constantly worried that we're "totally screwing it all up". All. The. Time.

Raku might have 'chosen' your girlfriend as his favorite. Conures are pair-bond birds, so make sure you spend plenty of time doing the things you already do, and if he is mean to you while your girlfriend is around(biting, attacking) then make sure she's the one to put him up for it. That way he realizes when he's mean, his favorite person doesn't like that. I'm sure he'll come around.

(P.S I'm about 30 minutes east of Dallas! Practically neighbors in this huge state, eh?)

 

[BriansAWildDowner]

He's never actually mean to me, he just runs away when I get near. He'll approach if I have a sunflower seed or banana but other than that he doesn't want anything to do with me.

My parents were in town for the weekend, and as soon as he met my dad (who has no experience with parrots at all) he stepped up on to is finger. Raku bit him pretty soon after that, but that's more interaction with him than I get.

Also, what down do you live in?

 

[Sterling1113]

I getcha. All our birds prefer my boyfriend (except Pascal, he's pretty good about loving and treating us equally.) and though they don't hate me I just have a harder time spending quality time with them than he does. So I can relate somewhat.

Im in rockwall. little town. Well, used to be little, growing very fast!

 

[BriansAWildDowner]

*sigh* My GF and I had a friend over today that Raku hadn't met before. Raku liked him more than me too!

I have some family that lives in Rockwall I think. Every time I hear that name it reminds me of a dream I had where I was riding giant turtles called Rockwallers.

 

[IRNMom]

Sorry, I just saw this thread now, but a thought just came to me as I was reading it. Birds can sense your feelings so if you are tense, anxious, apprehensive, etc. he could sense that. I'm not exactly sure what the correct answer is to fix it, but for me clicker training is really working well. I've only recently started, but so far so good. I am new to being a bird parent also, but I've had mine for over 4 months now and have learned that it can take a long time for some birds to get comfortable enough with you to go to you. Good luck and definitely don't give up!

 

[Sterling1113]

Yes! Clicker training is a great idea. Trick training is a great way to spend quality time with your fid and work on that bond! Plus, you said he likes treats, so maybe he'll pay more attention to the training if you use his favorite treat as a reward.